Rhineland-Palatinate

Mainz

Mainz is a wine and media city on the Rhine, just minutes from Frankfurt, with a large university and notably lower rents than its bigger neighbour.

Arriving in Mainz: you must register your address (Anmeldung) at the local Meldebehörde within two weeks of moving in — that is a legal deadline under § 17 Bundesmeldegesetz, not a guideline, and missing it carries a fine of up to €1,000. Budget roughly €480/month for a WG room, though see the caveat on that figure below.

Deadline and fine: § 17 BMG, § 54 Abs. 3 BMG.

Student friendly

8/10

Transport

8/10

Safety

8/10

FirstWeek editorial rating — our own read, not a measured statistic. Not derived from official data. How we handle data

Rent, roughly

Room type	Avg monthly rent
WG room	€480
Studio	€720
1-bedroom	€960

Not independently sourced — treat as a rough indication only. How we handle data

Universities

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Frequently asked questions

What universities are in Mainz?

Mainz is home to: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz University of Applied Sciences.

Which German state is Mainz in?

Mainz is located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

How long do I have to register my address in Mainz, Germany?

Two weeks. § 17 of the Bundesmeldegesetz requires anyone moving into a residence in Germany to register with the local Meldebehörde within two weeks of moving in. The clock starts on your move-in date, not your arrival in the country.

What is the fine for registering your address late in Mainz, Germany?

Up to €1,000. Late or missing registration is an Ordnungswidrigkeit under § 54 Abs. 3 of the Bundesmeldegesetz, carrying a fine of up to €1,000. In practice many offices issue a warning or a much smaller amount for a first, briefly late registration — but the legal ceiling is €1,000.

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